Trout opener will pack a punch

Wednesday

Apr 23, 2008 at 12:01 AM

For anglers cooped up by winter, Saturday is a time to celebrate. It's the statewide opening day of stream trout fishing in the Sierra and lakes in Mono County, with more than 300,000 fishermen expected to hit the water.

Peter Ottesen

For anglers cooped up by winter, Saturday is a time to celebrate. It's the statewide opening day of stream trout fishing in the Sierra and lakes in Mono County, with more than 300,000 fishermen expected to hit the water.

Conditions should be excellent. There is plenty of water thanks to abundant rainfall, and the snow pack hasn't begun to melt, so runoff will be minimal. Anglers 16 years and older must have a current California sport fishing license ($38.85).

"I don't foresee temperature changes before the coming weekend, so rivers will be very fishable," said Dave Kirby at Woodfords Station on Highway 88. "Things are perfect right now, with clear water and just the right flows. Nights are cool, down to 26 degrees."

The East and West forks of the Carson River already have been stocked by the Department of Fish and Game. As a bonus, the Alpine County Fish and Game will release 2,000 pounds of trophy rainbows - up to 8 pounds - split equally in both forks of the river.

"The big fish come from American Trout and Salmon out of Susanville," Kirby said. "They are just beautiful."

The best lake in the Carson Pass region is Indian Creek Reservoir, which received a 1,000-pound plant of trophy rainbows a few weeks ago. Other impoundments such as Caples, Red and Silver lakes are iced in the center and extremely dangerous.

"There is some open water along the edges of these lakes, but anglers must be very careful," Kirby said.

Both Highway 88 and Highway 89 are open across the Sierra to the eastern slope and Highway 395. But Highway 4 remains closed at the end of the canyon but does offer access to Silver Creek and Wolf Creek, where anglers might tap a combination of holdover brook and rainbow trout.

Campers have options, such as Forest Service sites at Crystal Springs and Markleeville Creek, the BLM campground at Indian Creek Reservoir and the county campground at Turtle Rock Park. Information: (530) 694-2930 (Woodfords).

Highway 4 is open to the east end of Alpine Lake, which remains frozen. Spicer Road also is closed, reported Joe Frates at Ebbetts Pass Sporting Goods in Arnold.

"Roads have been plowed to the Stanislaus River at Calaveras Big Trees State Park and Boards Crossing," Frates said. "Anglers will have access to the river at these locations, which have been heavily stocked."

Beaver Creek will be reachable through the tree farm gate. San Antonio Creek, which flows out of White Pines Lake, will yield small brookies and rainbows.

Highway 108, the Sonora Pass Road, is open to Kennedy Meadows and provides access to forks of the Stanislaus and Tuolumne rivers, reported Mike Davis at Rich and Sal's Sportshop in Pinecrest. Rivers will be stocked by the Department of Fish and Game, including Clarks Fork.

"We've still got patchy snow, but the spring has been very dry," Davis said. "Most roads to lakes and streams will be open."

Davis said Pinecrest Lake is low and rising. The marina will be operating by the opener. The road to Beardsley Lake is open, and fishing is good there for brown trout that average 12 to 14 inches. The water level is below the launch ramp at Beardsley, so only 4-wheel drive vehicles with small aluminum boats can get onto the lake.

The Forest Service campground at Pinecrest opened April 19. There will be services, including camping at Kennedy Meadows. Information: (209) 965-3637 (Pinecrest).

Jim Reid at Ken's Sporting Goods in Bridgeport said cool nights have slowed runoff, making for good conditions on both the West and East forks of the Walker River.

"The West Walker along the highway is low and clear, so the trout fishing should be excellent," Reid said. "The East Walker is flowing at 100 cubic feet per second, and the fly fishing with caddis and midges is the ticket for big brown trout."

Bridgeport Reservoir is 75 percent full and has been stocked with Alpers rainbows by the Fish and Game. Each year trout in the 5- to 10-pound class are pulled from the reservoir, primarily by trollers.

Twin Lakes are 100 percent full and have been iced out for three weeks. Regulators are not letting much water out of Lower Twin, so Robinson Creek is a solid choice for stream angling.

The road to Virginia Lake is open, but the lakes are frozen.

"Anglers typically do well at Virginia Lakes through the ice," Reid said. "Some mighty large rainbows are generally caught." Information: (760) 932-7707 (Bridgeport).